Death Among the Stars Quest 75GraveQM!OAW/XsPFOk(ID: 19fbY6vG)05/06/17(Sat)20:22:06No.1434391

Spindles moon was cleared of unfriendly undead by the time a knot of twisted space-time unraveled to reveal the Charnel Vault several light-minutes away. It's massive engines flared to life leaving ripples of void-light in their wake as it accelerated toward the moon that was a mere speck against the backdrop of the colossal form of the gas giant. A small fleet of ships had congregated around the moon and it did not take long for a corvette to move out to meet them.

The sub-capitol docked with the flagship, looking like a remora latched onto the side of a massive whale, and unloaded its precious cargo. The airlock slid open and Jor bowed deeply upon seeing you waiting there for them but them moved aside for the other "passengers" Jor had brought with him. Hovering stretchers covered by glass domes were ferried out and you watch the contained Necrolytes as they passed. As the Commanders stretcher passed you could feel for yourself how weak his lifeforce was and just how far his Void corruption had progressed.

Jor shakes his head as the pair of you follow the procession toward the chamber where you had prepared for their arrival, "I wish he had told me sooner about how far gone he was. He said being in Iti'a'Ropku had slowed down the corruption but..." he let out a sigh, "The Refuge campaign meant he was using his void abilities more and more and spending time away from the city. Something about it slows down the progression of Void and even Necrotic corruption. While I'm at Iti'a'Ropku, I don't feel the hunger as badly, I almost feel...mundane," he says, mostly letting his mind wander.

"Iti'a'Ropku is a blessed place, Jor. It came from your dreams and visions and you helped build it with the blessing of the Wormstar. It is the home of the Armada and its people," you reassure him, not pointing out it was likely the wide network of hidden energy sponges that was the likely cause, "Now, let us not focus on what could have been, Jor, but what must be done. Your friends are gravely hurt and they will need your aid in order to continue their duties. Let us begin."

He nods, his emotions calming and steeling themselves as he straightened his posture, "Of course, Lord Jadyk. I shall not fail them or you," he says, tightly gripping the battle-scarred reaver staff that had slain the rogue Immortal.

Also taken from the corvette were the crates containing the pieces of the Immortal and another stretcher containing the Necromancer Martin Graim. Both pieces of cargo were placed under heavy guard by Void and Molten Trolls Necromancer Klikli never strayed far from them after Jor asked him to keep watch, the human Necromancer not wanting to risk another incident of disappearing bodies after they had fought so hard to retrieve the first of the set.

Due to some computer screw-ups I lost the progress I made on the resources so I'll make sure they reflect the actual amounts by next thread. This included statting up the Drakon and Worllunan systems for resource generation.

>>1434455Elemental Event - Arc Surge>An unusual increase in Arc energy throughout the sector, and possibly the galaxy, allows for Arc based technology and weaponry to work better than expected including boosting research speed concerning related experiments. Arc wielders also report an unexpected ease to their abilities, once lofty feats coming easier to even the freshest novice.

>Anti-Wraith Technology Development: The Think Tanks believe they may have developed a potential weapon or tool against the Wraiths but wish to include the Mindvines in their side of the project.

Completed Research:>Alchemical Forge: Think Tanks have taken the next logical step after the Chemical Fabricator and enlarged the technology

[UNKNOWN EXPERIMENTS] revealed:>Reconstructed Neural Interface: The isolated Think Tank contacts you, revealing the secretive research in an attempt to please you. Considered to be the descendant tech of the Neural Interface Device the Neural Interface tech allows the direct connection between a Reconstructed and a living targets nervous system.

>Reconstructed Symbiots: By using the newly developed RNI and Chemical Fabricator tech the Think Tank has created new forms of Reconstructed inspired by the Tenebrous Parasites and harkening back to your original living form.

>>1434474Unlocked:>Alchemical Forge: Similar in function to an oversized chemical fabricator the Forge is a large and complex device that is superficially similar to a Cauldron. Capable of synthesizing and producing a wide array of chemical compounds in generous quantities from mundane materials the Forge has an even wider array of applications. Ranging in uses such as dietary supplements, agriculture, medicine, toxins, biomass recycling, etc. the Forge also allows an extensive chemical analysis to be performed on samples including bioweapons and viral agents. A Forge is linked to several vats that can either be used to examine samples, producing a batch, or recycling organic and non-organic materials into usable biomass. This allows a settlements trash to actually be collected and recycled into a variety of uses. Produces: 5B on a planet

>Reconstructed Neural Interace (RNI): An organic tool comprised of a set of complex mandibles and needles that pierce a living targets flesh to tap into their nervous system, typically by the spine or similar nerve clusters, to allow direct access to a targets nervous system and memories. This connection allows the Reconstructed to manipulate the biochemisty of the target to a great deal as well.

>Control Worm: A small Reconstructed symbiot measuring roughly half a foot long the Control Worm is intended to grant a control over a living subject. By using it's mandibles that double as an RNI adaptation to cut way into a host the Control Worm will burrow until it connects to the hosts nervous system. In addition to allowing a direct mental contact between the host and Jadyk it grants a range of abilities and benefits. Equipped with a Chemical Fabricator the Control Worm is able to produce a wide array of chemical, pheromone, and hormonal cocktails that when paired with the RNI's neural manipulation the Control Worm is able to exert either near total control over a targets actions and mental state. The Control Worms also grant a minor regenerative healing effect to their host by producing medical pod quality medicines and bio-gels with their fabricators.

>Spinal Taps: A more blunt militarized form of the Control Worm, the Spinal Taps differ in being a mostly external symbiot. Connecting to a hosts spinal cord (or similar nerve clusters) the Spinal Tap offers the same psionic and medical benefits of the Control Worm while also increasing the hosts combat abilities and allowing a more intimate connection with Cauldron-forged exosuits and adaptations. Spinal Taps can equip a minor form of either the Grav-Harness to lessen the impact from high falls or a hard-light armor covering solely the torso for the times the host is not equipped in proper armor.

Research Unlocked:>Arc Experiments: Unknown, Unpredictable - Deciding to take advantage of the Arc Surge the Think Tanks have begun focusing on a variety of Arc related experiments they had passed over previously.

>>1434474>An unusual increase in Arc energy throughout the sector, and possibly the galaxy.Well the Akham just got a power boost to then.>Reconstructed Symbiots...Well I can already tell where this is going. Just try not to stick them into everybody, alright?

Also, i want to reiterate the request to take over the 3 unoccupied systems below our space. Or at least send Eyegores to see if they are viable.The are out of the way, so in no immediate danger, and would help to set up a buffer around our seat of power.

>>1434540Just worried that people might want to put them in a Confederate water supply or something.As for the southern systems, I agree that this should be done. Eyegores first, then some stealth reconstructed for a more thorough search.

>>1434493Of those injured and brought aboard a number of them merely need a stay inside a medical pod for their injuries and Blight Hunger infection to be cured but the others were in more dire straights. A quick examination of their injuries and strengths further clarified the worst among them.

Among their numbers Jor was able to speak with several of them before they were placed into stasis to avoid the progression of the Blight Hunger infection. Of their number one of the Voidsingers, an Osjiic that had been among Estkri's fleet and one of the oldest in your service, asked to be allowed to join the Voidknight Order as a Disciple. Orvca, the osjiic Arcdancer that had saved Jor from the Immortal's wrath, claimed that as long as she was able to loyally serve the Armada she did not care if she was Reconstructed or was healed back to normal. Her name was among those of Eiton's list for potential Predator candidates and by her strength she was more than ready to become one. The others had either been unable to speak with him due to their injuries or merely said they only wished to continue to serve in the Legion.

"To Death and through it to Eternity," Jor says as he stands by your side overlooking the process as each of the injured were carefully placed into medical pods by cautious Dirges, "They told me this, almost unanimously. The Armada is their life and the Legion is their family and they wish to continue fighting for both."

>>1434691Commander is top priority of course.As for Orvca, I think she should become the first of the Predator order's intermediate rank. The Void knights have the disciples,reconstructed that have yet to earn a name and need time to fully master their power, so I think the Predators should have one too.

>>1434919Heal Rosa. Immortality shouldn't be given out so easily. The commander has been a key asset to our forces. If Rosa can show some more leadership skills on a large scale then it could be warranted.I think Orvca should be turned into an Arc Disciple. She got pretty fucked up and most of our energy will be going into transferring the Commander into a new body. If we sill have plenty of energy left we should heal her so that she can get a formal reconstruction.

>>1434919"You will assist me, Jor. You have proven yourself capable with the creation of Illuminator Tlacex," you say to him and move forward drifting through past the glass chambers that held your loyal subjects.

Jor followed, nodding, "Of course, Lord Jadyk. I will do whatever I can to save them," he promises.

"Very good. Officer Rosa has served me well but it is not her time to reach Immortality. She will be cured and healed, her limbs Reconstructed so that she may continue to fight in the Legions vanguard," you stop in front of the large tanks containing the nameless Voidsinger and the Arcdancer Orvca, "I am impressed by their loyalty. They were among the same fleet as the Commander under Estkri and ever since they day they pledged themselves to the Armada they have fought bravely. They will be remembered for their service but their destinies lie down a different path," you say and the tanks containing the pair of osjiic were slide back to where they could continue to heal in their med-pods until they could be transferred to the respective temples.

One of the large Cauldrons that the Charnel Vault carried began to boil and churn furiously as canisters of liquid biomass were emptied into it in preparation for the procedures. Pipes slither out from the ceiling like segmented worms and connect firmly to the med-pods, linking them to the Cauldron above. The pods were shuffled around and placed in a circle, the Commander, Arcdancer and remaining Voidsingers in the center. You sat hovering in the air as Jor assumes the same position, staff laid across his lap and holding the petrified Talon skull.

Holding out your hand Kyn'tk slithers out then splits itself into dozens of portions like black twisting serpents that enter each of the med-pods. You held onto a portion of it as the others slither their way into the bodies of the injured, a relay for your power and guide for their transformation. Taking a deep breath Jor nods at you then quickly enters his trance, eyes flicking back and forth quickly behinds his eyelids as he reached his will out to yours.

Liquid biomass began to funnel down the pipes, discoloring the sterile fluids of the med-pods as the process began, the subjects within twitching as their still living flesh started to break down.

The same way it has since forever>There is a Dice Save per the situation that I set>Players roll to beat it with highest roll>Considered a loss if none of the rolls beat it>Critfail if its a 1>Critical success with a 100>Rolls 95-99 Special bonus>Rolls 2-5 Unexpected complication, possible failure depending on danger or sensitivity of situation

Under ten is NOT an autofailure, for the last time. Let's say something like this happens>DC is 75>Anons A B C roll>A: 55>B: 7>C: 85>C's roll is a success

>>1435139Across the sector from where you and Jor worked to save proven loyal soldiers of the Armada a new batch of unproven warriors begins to awaken from their slumber.

The tanks containing the Warblood Sunscale were nearly as large as those required for osjiic and netu. Guir and Dominator Valresko stood before the tanks inspecting the clones within their pods. The Blackscale necromancer inspected a holographic display showing their vitals as a pair were brought through the process of awakening.

Valresko clasped his hands behind him as he stared eyelessly at a Warblood curled up into a ball, it's scales a dark gray almost black that looked nearly purple floating in the biogel of the cloning pod, "Have you prepared for this, Guir? You will only have me and my Arbiters to assist you should things go...poorly," he says and turns toward the corrupted sunscale.

The necromancer nods and swipes a hand, the hologram flickering and shrinking down to a smaller display by the tanks, "Of course, Dominator. I am not foolish enough to be in the same room as the Warbloods when they awaken, you know how quickly they can strike," he says with a throaty, hissing chuckle.

Valresko nods and looks back toward the Warblood that started to stir as Dirges moved forward to transport two of the ten occupied pods to an observation chamber.

Raakah and Beqor had departed earlier on their destroyer Pestilence along with a small fleet of stealth ships to where they were supposed to meet the other Cabal of Blackscale that had contacted them. Among the Reconstructed they transported with them was a Harbinger slotted with a Solar Heart just in the off-chance you needed to speak with the other Blackscale personally.

Valresko and Guir walk out of the large chamber full of cloning pods and stop at a large window to look down at the enclosure where they had introduced the Divers and Scouts to the Workers already cloned. The chamber was quite large, an artificial tree of branching bone allowing the Scouts and Workers to perch or lay on a branch, several large heated pools with cloned eels, crustaceans and fish for easy food but the Divers mainly languished in the warm waters. Several of the workers were tinkering with slabs of bone and stone, using simple tools made from bone-branches and fist-sized rocks as they created small huts for them or began carving simple Worm-runes.

The initial unease that the Sunscale clones had felt when they were introduced to the large chamber was quickly forgotten as they joyously met their kin. Guir points to where one of the Workers was talking to a Scout as they lazed in the bone-tree, "That is the strength of the Sunscale. Each caste working together, realizing their own strengths and weaknesses to compensate for the other. An instinctive drive to unite and work together," he pauses then lets out a somewhat bitter laugh, "Except for us cursed Blackscale and the miserable Deepborn, all Sunscale have a place in their family."

>>1435349Valresko had been silent but a crack appeared in his faceless gaze when he spoke, flames flickering out faintly, "Thanks to Jadyk, the Blackscale now have a place to call home and a family to protect," he says and turns to meet the shocked expression of Guir, "Continue to serve Lord Jadyk and uphold the ideals of his Armada and the Blackscale will become another key part of his vision."

Guir bows his head, saluting with a fist against his heart, "We will not squander his gifts. I am loyal, Dominator, till the end of my days."

Nodding Valresko looked back to the clones below, a Worker and Diver teaming up to cook a meal of grilled fish, eel, and crustacean for the others, "Make certain your brother and sister understand this, Guir. I have grown...fond of you three and I would greatly prefer not to deal with any treachery. Be thankful that Lord Jadyk trusted you three enough not to force you all to have a Domination Spike. Make certain that trust remains unbroken, even if I am not here to keep watch."

Bobbing his head Guir waves off the notion dismissively, "You worry too much, Valresko. Working for and serving Lord Jadyk had given us a sense of security we have never enjoyed before. Not to mention the amount of resources we now have for our work, it would be folly to turn against Lord Jadyk."

Valresko could feel no lies in his words, the empathic sensors he had added to himself recently working. He just nodded and watched the Sunscale as they began to gather around the chefs to enjoy their meal. He could feel contentment and happiness wafting up from them, several laughing as one nearly slipped into pool while trying to balance steaming food in each hand.

So I tried to do a thing:Lorgul - First of the Void, Fist of the ArmadaNekris - Erfking, Lord of the HuntAngona - Magma ForgedJareth - Void Lord, Black WingedEiton - Silent Blade, Lord of NightMuic - Valresko - ArbitratorGral - Tlacex - Bearer of the Word, Keeper of the Light

>>1435355You are not Jadyk of the Wormstar. Nor are you First Necromancer Jor, nor any of his named Generals.

You are the Wayward Disciple, a moniker that Jadyk and the Think Tanks used to refer to you but a far cry from the proper name you would gain upon the success of your mission. Seated in a chair of bone and muscle you looked at the large holographic display floating over the table that was only occupied by one other being, the itru Voidsinger you had first inducted into the ways of the Armada and Reborn Voidknights. Helm resting on the table and your chin in your palm you looked over the data your network of spies gathered for you, a web of gargoyles, cyclops, devils, and stealth vessels cast across the planet.

Still you waited for the data from the Eyegores currently observing the contested systems the Council and the Synthetics warred over. Yet there was still much going on on Calera, the injured capital city looming over the largest landbound city of the hemisphere as slaves and resources were funneled up to assist in the repairs sustained in their conflict. The fact that the slaves never descended from the city meant that more had to be brought in from outer provinces, trains and convoys transporting them across the polluted landscapes.

A devil tracking a war-barge discovered a hidden shipyard in a snow-covered mountain range. Shadows and gargoyles sent to investigate discovered large caverns where space-worthy vessels were being constructed, numerous frames and skeletons in states of completion. Resources were transported in by transport barges, the mountains too rough and erratic to allow for the easy construction of roads or rail-lines.

The gargoyles sent to keep watch over the hidden village report that there was a small army of Council soldiers combing through the nearby mountains. They spread through the forests, searching for something amid the wilderness and their search patterns placed the village in their direct path and by the calm attitudes of the villagers showed they did not know of their impending discovery.

In a small city relatively close to the Councils resting place a gargoyle roosting among the rooftops overheard that a local cell of rebels, freedomfighters, or anarchists (depending on who the gargoyle overheard) had been captured. They were being held in a prison awaiting a military convoy to pass through to transport them and other dissidents to the capital and likely the Councils floating city itself.

There was much to see and much to interfere with. What shall you strike at?>Raid Council supply lines>Sabotage/Attack hidden shipyard>Protect hidden village>Rescue captured dissidents>Other

Also a reminder, the Wayward Disciple has access to all current Armada tech including the recent Quasiphasic Disruption tech and Specter Reconstructed. Tech involving Arc or Solar energies are prohibited since a Cauldron can not create them without the spark of an existing energy source.

>>1435538A small refresher about the hidden village too. It is a small village hidden in the middle of a large mountain range at a high elevation. Composed of the descendants of freed slaves and runaway soldiers that managed to escape and hide there, human, vorh, and itru appear to live in harmony with each other and their surroundings. They have been observed by Gargoyles with small Dreamstones hidden around their village so the Disciple could observe their dreams and gather that they would be considered heretics before the Council, actively renouncing their teachings in a form of agnostic atheism.

It is isolated in a valley of the dense mountain range, the area free from much of the pollution and necrotic corruption that taints most of Calera. The village itself is actually hidden in the remains of a former cavern system that had been revealed with a large portion of the cavern roof collapsed to expose the caves and the forests and wildlife filled in. Over the ages that produced something of an underground forest with its own micro-ecosystem of humid rainforest sheltered from the chill and snow outside.

>>1435571How large of a portion of the roof are we talking about? Because if its small enough, we could patch it up until they are done searching this area.If its too large to do it quickly, we can combine the ideas of the other guys(fake village,clues leading in the opposite direction) so that we can buy time, lead them to where the entrance of the real village is, that way they cross that area of their map and search other areas.

>>1435588It's pretty big. The cavern itself its probably 200 feet tall where the crumbling lip of the sink holes are with the largest nearly a mile at its widest with several other sinkholes exposing other parts of the cave system. The area is a long dormant volcanic area and has an extensive cavern system carved out by spring water fed by snowmelt.

The forest around the lip of the cavern is very dense, the valley being a heavily wooded area that makes the cavern system very hard to spot from the air but almost shockingly easy to find while at ground-level

>>1435610Nvm then. Just build a fake village, leave some clues that lead away from the real one and have some of the natives that already fight for us attack them and lead them in the direction of the fake clues/trail.

>>1435538I just realized a big mistake I made when i was trying to figure out why everyone was voting for making a decoy village. There is only a day or two at most before the Councils troops discover the village, not enough time to construct a decoy.

>>1435699I just think alot of us are now waiting for someone else to come up with a plan.New plan!Have some of the natives that fight for us attack the scouting party then flee. As they flee, have one of them drop some kind of clue, like a map of an area or orders. Have them make a show of trying to retrieve it,but never actually getting it and fleeing. The information should be enough to get them interested in another area. If they dont find anything there, they could just assume that they were warned and fled and destroyed their village.

Warn the villages offer them sanctuary in Jaydks name. Use reconstructed to hamper search by causing rock slides things we can try to pass off as natural occurring disaster stuff or leaving false trails to lead them away

>>1435735see here: >>1435538>Also a reminder, the Wayward Disciple has access to all current Armada tech including the recent Quasiphasic Disruption tech and Specter Reconstructed. Tech involving Arc or Solar energies are prohibited since a Cauldron can not create them without the spark of an existing energy source.

The city holding the dissidents for transport lies at a crossroads of connecting rail-lines and highways. Mainly populated by the workers and farmers that tend to the swampy fields that grow several of the planets food staples, most of the city and the suspended rail-lines perched on top of a wide flat hill that rose above the marshes.

The prison was located near the borders of the hill close to a highway typically restricted to military and council vehicles. The prison itself was perched at the edge of the cliffs over where most of the waste and garbage of the city was dumped. A gargoyle survey showed that a small barracks of soldiers was on hand to keep watch over the prisoners, most of the population disrespectful slaves or workers that were caught squirreling away food for their families. The dissidents were kept in a well-protected block near to the barracks itself. Thankfully the city had very little air-traffic, only possessing one pylon for a handful of military barges since most of their gathered food was transported by train.

The next expected convoy was due to pass by by sundown the next day from what the gargoyle could overhear as it eavesdropped at the window of a room full of communications equipment.

>>1435798Are the guards wearing full body armor? If so I recommend we quietly take out any stationed between the dissidents and the cliffs and put on their armor so as to not arouse suspicion.. Then our more sturdy and agile reconstructed can ferry them down the cliffs.

>>1435876The Wayward Disciple was very aware of the severity of their mission. With a goal as lofty as stealing the very powersource of the Council of Thirteen assigned to them not only by Jadyk but by the inscrutable Masked they felt an immense pressure being placed upon them. Yet, rather that buckle and shatter under that enormous pressure, they would let that pressure weigh down on them, compress and focus their will to bring them to an intensely focused clarity.

The weight of the Councils established power pressed down on them as well, a monolith of military might that could annihilate their forces if they ever discovered them. They knew that to break the Councils hold on the Wormstar fragment they would have make their foundation crumble, to attack at their legs so their grip would loosen. To succeed, they knew that they would have to adopt tactics that Jadyk would not, that he could not morally restrain themselves against an enemy this powerful.

Stealth Coffins bearing squads of human soldiers and Reconstructed departed from main base after allowing the Cauldrons an hour to work. They had created some of the first Specters of the Armada, the silent undead packed into a Coffin, their forms flickering indistinctly as they kept themselves solid enough to be transported.

Once loyal soldiers of the Councils armies these humans that the Disciple sent were unlike the Necrolyte Legion, their loyalty forcefully and brutally reassigned to Jadyk and the Armada. The Disciple knew that Jadyk would likely frown on this method of recruitment but they knew they did not have the time to naturally gain their unwavering loyalty the same way Jadyk had. Days and nights spent locked in a Dreamstone induced dreams and nightmares a Think Tank has broken the illusion a lifetime of zealous belief in the power of the Council and twisted into admiration of Jadyk as the true champion of the Wormstar.

They as well were among some of the first of the Armada, the freshly formed Spinal Tap symbiots burrowed into their spines and hidden under their uniforms and armor. The Reconstructed Symbiots pumped painkillers into them to dull the ache of their hasty implanting and merging with their nervous systems. The Disciple mused that if they had this technology mere weeks ago the brainwashing would have been much easier and less intrusive.

The Coffins had quickly split up, lifting into the air hidden in their pockets of twisted light and sound as they departed for their respective missions. The minds of the living soldiers filled with the repeated hymns and prayers of the Wormstar, penned by the Necromancers of Iti'a'Ropku.

The Wayward Disciple sat in their chair of bone and muscle, their plans set into motion and all they had to do was wait for the time. Wait and continue to plot out the downfall of the Council in the name of the Armada and Lord Jadyk. They would not let the pressures they endured shatter them, their aspirations would not let them fail.

>>1435958Even as Jadyk and Jor focused on saving the minds of the loyal and their friends, while the Wayward Disciple launched his plots against the Council, the Armada continued to move forward.

Iti'a'Ropku was quite busy once more as another small fleet of Pirate Clan vessels had arrived and set up shop in the Bazaar once more. Even as the sun was rising in the sky the people of the city and their guests were haggling and striking deals while gamblers shouted as they crowded around pits where creatures of robotic, alien or reconstructed fought for the profit of their owners. It had been a suggestion of Red-Leaf-Strains that the City offer healing or repair services to the organic and robotic pit fighters, the osogo originally disliking seeing them mangled and injured after their matches. The Think Tanks enjoyed this proposition due to them gaining access to DNA samples and mechanical scans of those they would heal or repair while their owners enjoyed not losing their prised fighters.

The Pirates brought their own would-be gladiators offering to step into the ring to face the dangers of the Reconstructed or cloned beasts of alien worlds. Less shockingly were the amount of hover-racers clamoring for a chance to race in the "Armada Circuit" as they called it, bookies and bet-tenders already fielding large amounts of bets on the rapidly filled races.

On the other planets of the Refuge system the undead mop-up continued. The officers and Voidknight Disciples left in charge during the Commanders absence began allowing ships crewed with volunteers and militia from Hearth begin heading for Scatters to assist with the feral undead elimination now that Illuminator Tlacex and the Legion had scattered the undead hordes across the dry world. The Illuminator did not grow lax with his duties now that most of the undead had been dispersed, instead he continued what he interpreted as part of his mission by continuing to protect the people of Scatters.

Within the largest of the reinforced cities, where several thousand survivors had holed up and witnessed his arrival, he began to assist with the rebuilding alongside the giant Juggernaut. At first they had shied away from the intimidating undead and his monstrosity but at the encouragement of the Legionnaires they began to overcome their unease as the Illuminator guided his Juggernaut to lift up and clear massive piles of debris and rubble that would have taken hours to clear. Sifting through the rubble of a collapsed building Tlacex discovered a group of survivors that had become trapped in the basement, the sight of the imposing undead gently lifting the injured out of the pit with simple hard-light constructs and the Legionnaire medics rushing forward to tend to them being recorded by members of the crowd and quickly circulating through Scatters then Hearth.

>>1436095Ruscuv and Jareth continue to send repeated stealth strikes against the Osjiic forces, sending hardly more than a handful of stealth ships for hit-and-run attacks meant to harry their repair efforts and prevent them from resting. They struck at odd intervals, never letting the osjiic predict when they would appear next. Their small numbers and the plans of the Lich and Voidknight letting them keep one step ahead of the increasingly frustrated Imperial defenders.

The Lavafathers forces, guided by the Punishers Agona and Muic lay in wait, their stone ships drifting through the systems of Tura and Rolan with their own stealth fleets. They watched as the Ahkam ships amassed, several Storm Gates appearing in both systems every other hour as fleets appeared or portions were reassigned elsewhere. The Eyegores in the Ahkam held systems reporting that Arc signatures seemed to be increasing in strength and capital ships believed to house Ahkam serpents appearing to move faster than ships their size should. The Punishers had been warned by the Think Tanks about the Arc Surge and they in turn cautioned the Lavafather who postponed their attacks in lieu of waiting to gain Armada assistance. To assist in that regard the Punishers sent out a call to the Think Tanks and they divert a portion of their remaining stealth ships and a number of quick-strike ships prepared to leap into the system.

Lightminutes away from Horizon's Drop the Wick appears from sub-space and accelerates home, Buddy and his crew eager to return once they heard about the Pirate Clans arrival. They also carried a message from the Wraithborn Cartel, the higher-ups saying they wanted to establish more ships smuggling the product. The three of them had managed to strike a deal, the Cartel agreeing to supply civilian freighters that can be retrofitted with smuggler holds if they provided a crew. Buddy and the others planning to recruit from the Armada citizenry along with the Legion for potential guards after hearing a rumor that the Wraithborn had been getting into a possible dispute with a rival gang when they had left.

The Necrotic Armada grows by the day and its machinations progress throughout the stars.

Once things have calmed down a little more and the undead clean-up is really no more than a routine and the people are sheltered and safe, are you guys in favor of holding a victory parade and award ceremony for the necrolytes? We can't award everyone by turning them into disciples or immortals but we sure as sure can give them medals and official recognition.We'll record it and let Buddy smuggle the video back to that underground news channel.

>>1436197I figured we'd do it back at itiaropku, not in refuge. It's in poor taste to parade in a broken and devastated world.It'll be a private armada celebration that just happens to be recorded by, say, pirate clansmen who happen to be there.

>>1438545Probably my fault in not being clear about the dangers of the Immortality process.

People like Rosa or Buddy who don't have any kind of elemental potential, the process is mostly safe with a rare chance of failure.

Its characters with elemental powers other than Necrotic that have the danger. Voidsingers, Arcdancers, and Solar Arbiters are the ones that have a chance of their elemental powers interfering with the process.

Think Tanks are pretty sure Necromancers would have a near 100% success rate if they decided to go the Immortal route.

>>1438545To be worthy of being an immortal, you have to be more then strong. If we want to use your strength forever,we can just reconstruct you. It's when ones mind is worth saving that we consider making them an immortal

>>1439181Rosa has a lot of mean feats, yes, but that's all she has been contributing, being a crazy berserker woman. I think most people need to see her speak and become a character before they'll vote for it.

I don't see a problem with giving her the offer, not every new thing we do need to bloat the character cast and be given screentime/POV thread. Just power her up and let her loose on our enemies.

Hey Grave! I just finished archive diving, I just wanted to say you've got a really interesting universe here and I'm looking forward to participating. I am excited for zombie plants. I wonder if we could team up with the Armatocere to create an undead ecosystem. It would probably end horrifically (awesome).

As for Rosa, she has more of a reason to become Immortal than the other nameless people we're turning. I mean she saved Jor's life personally. Unless, Jor is interested in her and doesn't want to turn her yet.

I also think we should be making a big deal about the commander being remade, people will begin to see the Legion as a pathway to immortality. Specifically we should showcase the personal qualities that make us consider someone to be Immortalized. After all, these people are going to be around for a long time with a large amount of power, and if there's one thing the Masked proved, it's that they have their individuality and ability to resist us. And ffs give him a name.

One thing I should point out in general for everyone though, Necromancers as advanced as Jor sort of lose all desire in a physical/sexual matters similar to how he no longer really needs to eat or sleep as often as long he keeps his energy levels up.Not only do I suck at writing romance stuff, I don't really like to. Guess that's why neither this nor Ghoul quest had that in there beyond background mentions of characters

>>1440223My problem with this is that it will cause many organisms to desire this. Immortality that preserves ones mind and is quick and easy compared to lichdom will become a point of obsession for many. Even the ones who don't desire immortality for power would still desire it in order to save the life of a loved one. I'm not saying to not make immortals. Some people are just too valuble to be simply reconstructed. I just think that we need to be damn clear that only a very small number of organisms will be made Immortals.

>>1440774Here, Andy i ask thinking, the sunscails have corporation built into them, each cast doing there needed role, but there is one cast that we have overlooked The flyers They may have an vital use we haven't considered Flyers might be the happy glue that holds the sunscails together We know where to get some flyer DNA We should have them cloned quickly

>>1434493Control wormIdea!What if we made a worm that doesn't control but copy's? That links a living mind to deep rot, and in the case of death that mind can be put into a cloned body or a reconstructed oneWe need never lose the experience of a soldier again

>>1440774Sur-Quro had her hands full dealing with the newly gifted Solar Armatocere, the floral creatures struggling to contain their instinctive fear as flames engulfed their vines or branches. The yuyut was thankful for the aid of a Solar Harbinger and Solar attuned Dirges helping keep their powers under control as she taught them how to keep their flames contained. Several had a much easier time than the others, already able to manifest a floating flame before them when they concentrated. She found herself wishing Valresko was there or at least some of the other Arbiters she had already helped initiate and train. Idly she wondered if the other elemental Armatocere were having as much difficulty.

Indeed, the Arc and Void infused faced their own struggles but remarkably they were adjusting quickly. The Void seemed to favor the Cacti, the stoic florals managing to quickly learn how to focus and attune their energies with one in particular capable of already weakening their individual gravity to lift several inches off the ground for a short time before they wore themselves out.

The pair of Necrotic attuned Armatocere were under close watch of the Think Tanks and the Necromancers helping them. The stunted cacti took to the training with the same stoic calm that the others of their kind did but the sapling was a surprise to them all. Before they had seemed almost sickly compared to Slrrt and other Saplings the Armada had encountered, their leaves slightly wilted and their petals pale and nearly a colorless bone shade, but now, having had their Necrotic potential unlocked and given a taste of life-energy taken from a wild cliffjumper the difference was staggering. Moving with obvious confidence their leaves were perked up and a healthy dark green while remarkably their bone-white petals were now streaked through with vivid blood-red rivulets. Indeed they had fed on more than just the ethereal lifeforce of the cliffjumper, their roots digging into the flesh of the dead beast to thirstily drain it of its fluids, leaving behind a shriveled sack of skin and bone.

Lightyears away in the city of Vyi'a'Rthun the elemental infused Ructu continued their training but several had decided to return to Iti'a'Ropku instead. Vekke was among those that learned by the side of the Sapling and Cacti, the mute ructu quickly seeming to warm up to the floral necromancers as they trained together. Already she could cast out a form of the Hex, metal rusting and plasteel melting, the mute starting to outpace the other crustacean necromancers due to the sense of determination that swelled up in her by the day.

>>1440974Eiton was seated in a chair of bone and muscle as he looked over an array of holographic displays, several of them filled with ship schematics or new Reconstructed ideas, others containing a list of names. One of the names, Arcdancer Orvca, was highlighted and showed that she was en route to the Arc Temple alongside the Voidsinger destined for the Void Temple. He had been surprised by her request to become a Disciple, the notion of a similar ranking as the Voidknight Disciples briefly discussed by Eiton and Nekris before. The Osjiic Arcdancer was among those he had selected as a possible candidate for future Predators and found the coincidence of her volunteering only mildly suspicious but he knew he had no room to be picky about who he selected to join him.

A small alert grabs his attention and he flicks a finger, the screens flashing away as another stretches open before him. Vle'Karak was "pacing" around his chamber, slithering back and forth in an anxious way. As Eiton was watching the screen the serpent turned their head so their remaining eye could stare at the hidden camera, his voice calling out, "I would speak with you or Jadyk, Predator," he says firmly.

How should he respond to Vle'Karaks request?>Go to speak with him>Ignore him>Request a Harbinger>Other

>>1441044Vle'Karak's head swings around to face the door even before Eiton had finished walking down the hall, the door sliding open as the undead entered. The serpent twists his head slighly, swaying as he coiled up partially, "Predator Eiton, yes?" he asks, Eiton nodding, "I see. Where is Predator Nekris?"

Eiton stood near the door as he looked up at the serpent in silence, "He is believed to be dead or lost. But you suspected this, didn't you?"

Tongue flitting out a few times Vle'Karak was silent as he looked down at the Arc-attuned undead before he finally spoke, "Yes, I knew he had left for a hunting trip, as he called it. I am to assume the hunt turned out poorly since you are hear instead of he or Jadyk."

The Predators hands clenched into fists but he keeps his calm, "How could you know?" he asks with annoyance in his voice.

Resting his chin on his coiled body Vle'Karak's single eye met Eitons cycloptic gaze, "Do not act a fool, Predator Eiton. I have come to respect Nekris power and I know that being his brother you can feel it," he looks around the room briefly, "An Arc Surge, stronger than I've ever felt," he says as a brief crackle of Arc-static pulses along his scales regardless of the nine glutton spheres connected to the three Domination Collars he wore.

Eitons hands fell to the hilts of the shortswords at his hip, "What do you know of the Arc Surge?"

The undead took a step back as the serpents mouth yawned open suddenly, fangs bared but after stretching his jaw before he began to speak, "The last time I experienced an Arc Surge was when I was a young serpent. My scales were free of scars and the brightest green you could imagine. It was my first campaign, serving under an older male as we fought the Empire in a distant star system. Our forces were weakening, their reinforcements arriving every hour as they trapped us in a dense asteroid belt. Many of my servants believed we would die, crushed among the rocks, but then I felt it.

"This sensation of overwhelming strength rushing through me and then I heard the laughter of the elder. He knew what it was, the Arc Surge rising up and empowering us. We struck back and took them by surprise, the Empire folding before our enhanced strength and we shattered their hold on the system as Storm Gates opened and brought our reinforcements," he speaks, remembering his old victory then shakes his head slightly, "The surge was brief though. Only a trio of standard galactic days before our strength returned to normal but in that time the Dynasty conquered several star systems. If you have not been attacked by the Dynasties, then you will be and soon. They know not to let this advantage go to waste, you should prepare yourselves."

Was there anything specific he should question or speak to Vle'Karak about?>Write-in

>>1441174Do you know what causes such occurrences? We believe it started building when Nekris was lost, and his soul bound weapon cannot be found. Also will we have issues with you or your kin trying to escape?

>>1441174So we should launch a preemptive strike on the Akham world's with the most docked ships,this weakening the eventual invasion. Also maybe we should raid Osjic worlds,not to conquor them,but to bait the akham to attack them and weaken them both.

>>1441262I was thinking that we should be sending more stealth ships to establish secret bases within enemy territory. We send our fleet in, and then have our secret forces emerge and attack planetary defenses and command officers. If we can establish surveillance on their command structure, we could even identify officers to clone and replace.

Or if we can infiltrate their shipyards, start having them install crit crawls on all their ships.

>>1441174Eiton was silent as he regarded the serpent for some time then moves to sit in the stone chair Nekris had carved for his conversations with the Ahkam, "Do you know what causes an Arc Surge? Jadyk spoke to me and said that he has witnessed similar events occurring with Necrotic energy and likely the Void and Solar do as well."

"Regrettably the nature of the Arc Surges is one of the grand mysteries that the Ahkam struggle to understand. If the Dynasties could harness the power of the Surge their territory would expand exponentially. There is a tragedy told to the Ahkam when we are barely dry from hatching, of a Matriarch that tried to harness the power of the Surge only for it to consume her when she attempted to reach true apotheosis," he says with a faint fondness for days long past of his carefree youth.

"Do you have any idea how far an Arc wielder could possibly use an Arc Blink? I have a suspicion that Nekris is not dead but managed to tap into the Arc Surge when it began to fling himself to safety," Eiton admits to the serpent.

Vle'Karak looks at him with his large remaining eye for a few moments before answering, "I could not say. I am unsure if you realized this, but the Arc Blink was created by Nekris. I know of no Ahkam or other Arc wielder beyond you Predators and your Arcdancers using such a technique. While similar to our Storm Gate, I am impressed by the ingenuity to fling yourselves bodily with the Arc itself. It is a technique I am eager to try myself someday in a more...spacious testing ground," he says with his gurgling, throaty laugh.

He calms his laughter and rests his head on the coils of his body, "I can not truly give you an answer, Eiton. Only that I felt Nekris' presence sharply in the Arc, as if he was standing in the room with me then nothing. A blankness where I used to feel him in the Arc."

Eiton clacked his teeth at that, "I felt the same sensation at the moment he disappeared in that gas giant."

"Regrettably, that sensation I have felt when other Ahkam I have known perished. That is the nature of the Arc, the bonds we forge that reach beyond the metaphysical between us as individuals. We are attuned to the Arc, can distinctly feel these bonds," the serpent says, as if giving a lesson to a student.

"What do your bonds for the other Ahkam feel like?" Eiton asks.

Vle'Karak was silent as he looked at the undead, the empathic sensors built into the walls tracking a wave of annoyance then grudging acceptance at being caught in his words. Finally he answers, "Beyond the bond I feel to my strongest daughter, I feel nothing for those of my kind and even that is a mere faint glow, a reminder that she yet lives."

>>1441482Eiton nods, satisfied that the sensors could feel no lies in him even if it was hard for him admit the truth. Instead the undead shifts the topic back to Nekris, "Do you believe Nekris to be dead? His sword, Blight, had a portion of his essence sealed away within it and has gone missing around the same time as we lost him."

Tasting the air a few times the serpent seemed to think and debate with himself for a few moments then tilted his head side to side in motion of uncertainty, "With no corpse I can make no assumptions. Just think to yourself, Predator. What is the most likely scenario? Nekris is dead and lost in the storms of a gas giant, that he managed to fling himself through the Arc to unknown regions beyond even Jadyk's reach, or..." he trails off, looking expectantly at the undead.

"Or something or someone took him," he finishes for the serpent and looks up sharply at him, "You believe the Masked to be responsible?"

Vle'Karak flinches at the name and lets out a breathy curse in his native tongue about shielding him from their gaze before he shook his head, "Mind yourself, Eiton. There are somethings in this universe that are better left unnamed. And truly, I can not say. Strange events occur in this universe, Predator."

Eiton was silent as he nods, thinking to himself for some time. Eventually he looks up to the serpent once more, "I have heard you requested proof of Immortality. A bold demand of my Lord Jadyk," he says as the snake looked at him with renewed interest, "Soon you will have your proof and soon I am certain Jadyk will be expecting an answer to his question, Vle'Karak," standing up from the stone chair he meets the Ahkams gaze, "I do not know you as well as either Lord Jadyk or Nekris but I know my brother had high hopes for you. I pray to the Wormstar that his intuition was correct."

Predator Eiton gave the serpent a quick, polite bow then departed from the chamber, leaving the serpent alone with his thoughts. As he walked Eiton strained his hearing for the sound of rustling leaves and dry cloth but thankfully only heard the clack of his talons against the stone floor.

>>1441529How hard would it be to get a control worm through power armor?Can we (I don't remember the name we decided on) unmoor one so that it can pass through armer? Or make one similar to the flat body gargoyles and have it slip in through a crack

>>1441534Making one spectral would be counterproductive and make the RNI less likely to work by accidentally phasing through the spine rather than tapping into it.

They're already pretty flexible and the only solid part are their mandibles so they can squeeze through plenty of tight squeezes. One could probably get in through a damaged suit of armor if the gap was big enough and they can get to the unprotected flesh or exoskeleton below.

I think we are going to want Jaydk to drain something with Arc powers during this surge

Also, Question, If Jaydk where to periodically drain Arc from another creature, never to the point of killing them but just to the brink would that be enough to start the spark?

Also with the immortal process having a failure chance caused by an elemental wielders powers conflicting with the process, what if we drain them to negligible power levels. would this reduce the failure percentage at all?

For Example, attempting to transform Vlekarrak into an immortal would be dangerous due to his very powerful supply of Arc power... if we where to, Drain him almost to death and then transform him, would this: A allow Jaydk power of the arc, and B Reduce the failure chance of the immortal process?

>>1441489The Wick had made port on the outskirts of Iti'a'Ropku, the crew eager to get into the city proper and mingle with the newly arrived pirates while waiting for their ship to be loaded up with the next shipments of drop kelp and narcotikelp. Spotting a familiar Stinger Buddy waved as he passed and the undead lifted their hand with a rough grunt of greeting as they pushed a flat hovercart loaded with transport crates. The human just laughed and shook his head as he walked alongside Eigha and Clud.

Clud squinted at the Reconstructed as they made their way to an open-air transport, "Those things get smarter everytime we get back."

Eigha shrugged as she climbed into the transport, "Don't start worrying until they start cracking jokes."

"Hopefully they'll have better ones than the osjiic from the Empire have," Buddy said as the transport lifted up once they had sat down, "Humor is definitely something the Empire seemed to stamp out long ago."

Clud was about to speak when they realized the transport wasn't heading for the Bazaar and he reached over to tap the shoulder of the Pilot Reconstructed steering the construct of bone and metal, "Take us to the Bazaar," he said but was ignored and sat back to glance at the other two.

Shortly the transport came to rest on a rooftop only to take off once the trio disembarked. A Talon stood by an open doorway and waved them over before descending as well. They looked at each other before Buddy sighed and shrugged before following the undead, knowing it was useless to disobey.

Following the Talon they entered a chamber that was modestly decorated, none of them recognizing it as an office that Jor used when he was in the city. Buddy and Eigha sat in comfortable chairs, trying not to think about what the leather upholstery could be made from. Clud moved over to a side-table where a collection of alcohol in bottles sat, pouring a glass of Corri brandy for himself and the others.

They gave a start as the door slid open once more and a Harbinger entered the chamber, moving to the empty desk that Jor worked at normally and sat down. The trio set down their glasses and moved to stand before the desk and each gave a bow, the Harbinger nodding to them.

Your voice issued from the Reconstructed puppet, your mind splintered as most of your will concentrated on the Immortality process but finding time during a lull to speak with them, "Welcome home. How has the business been progressing?"

Once Buddy could barely control his adrenaline when speaking with you but now spoke calmly as he answered, "Quite well actually. The Wraithborn want to expand and increased the flow of Narcotikelp into Veraga Prime. It's become quite popular, not to mention we've gotten offers from mostly legitimate food companies and restaurants without ties to the Cartel wanting Drop Kelp as well."

I'm really sorry to leave off midpost but 4chan won't let me post in the thread despite restarting computer and wifi both. I was able to post in other threads but in this one it keeps asking me to redo captcha nonstop or just says connection error.

>>1441680Clud pulls a datapad from a pouch at his belt and tapped the screen a few times before reading from a list, "The Cartel says they will provide up to six freighters similar in size to the Wick for our use along with a merchant company charter allowing them docking rights to their personal docking pylon on Veraga Prime."

Eigha nods, "They wanted to provide the crews as well but we managed to convince them that we could get our own crew and guards. No doubt they wish to discover where we get our crops from."

The Harbinger nods, the table projecting the holo-data Clud transferred over to it allowing you to look over the Cartels proposal. As you looked at it through the Harbinger Buddy speaks up, "If you'd allow us, I'd like to go and start recruiting for potential crew-members to return with us to Veraga Prime. We'll need more Necrolyte assistance as well, if they can spare the soldiers."

>>1442177"Guards will definitely be needed I think," Eigha says, ignoring the glance Buddy shot her, "Supposedly some other drugrunning circles have discovered the Narcotikelp and from what I've gathered they don't appreciate not having access to a new type of drug."

"Armed guards are always necessary for smuggling. There will always be rivals that want to take what you have for their own profit," Clud adds.

>>1442180Buddy and his crew have returned from Veraga Prime with a potential deal proposed by the Wraithborn Cartel. They would provide freighters for the Armada to modify for smuggling and a trade route charter while Buddy would have to provide the crew and increased supply.

Was there anything you wished to modify with this deal or have them do before agreeing with it?>Write-in

>>1442181Perhaps some former pirates among our number would appreciate a return to shipboard life? Or some members of the clan would appreciate being able to help crew our ships if it means making contacts with Commonwealth cartels and getting intel on shipments they can exploit or ambush.

>>1442181Take the ships to an away from home location thst we own, take them apart, look for spy fear. Put blockers in the ships in case we miss anything, and the load it up with drugs. We need to keep this cartel on our good side, but work to either entrap them and make them our cartel, or slowly grow infrastructure to form our own. More dosh, more control, more infiltration into other governments.

Just thinking that one thing we could do to increase our influence in the confederacy would be to use control worms on some of their politicians. Benefits of them having a democratic system is that we could use this on a fringe movement then supply resources to them to build support. Could be useful in eventually turning some of their worlds over to us without a costly war.

>>1442589I was thinking more that we could have some of their more backwater places just switch over to us without us having to dedicate an entire fleet. It could also be useful in causing dissent and chaos in their more built up worlds. Just voicing some ideas to see if there is any merit.

>>1442610Well since it is a confederacy,in theory it makes it easier for members to leave. Although,if they joined us without any visible reason(saving their asses from starvation or invasion when the Confederacy didnt do nearly as much)then the Confederacy will get very suspicious.So if we do try this, we have to target ones that are already pretty pissed at the Confederacy.

>>1443979Ah well then ask, but tell em only about the healing. Not like a think tank is gunna leak info, and if we do have to control someone directly we'll say the domination spikes grow more powerful the longer they're in.

>>1440256It's obvious it will be a privilege solely for jadyk's most favored. But really, what are you afraid of? It's something only jadyk knows how to do- you think people are going to try to what, kidnap him and force an ancient evil to make them immortal? If anyone is actually capable of that they are probably already immortal.

Another point in favor imo is when the empire finds out. What it will do to morale and loyalty if they know there is a possibility of a life where you aren't doomed to become a battery pack. I mean if it cures the void curse as a aside effect just curing it without the immortality added on isn't far fetched. Either way it is possible it will completely undermine the emperors hold on an entire caste

>>1445163I'm just a bit worried that well try to make any body who else something beat immortal. Take Rosa for example:she is a skilled soldier,but that alone dosnt make one deserving of immortality. The Commander has far more experiance,loyalty (though that's like comparing a a billion to a hundred million),he is a skilled battlefield commander and he has shown to be skilled with warfare beyond battles. I don't mean to sound worried,I'm just imagining the worst case scenario.